Better weather today while there is a break between storms.
Quick mid day run for some supplies, Still plenty of clouds locking the snow into the mountains
And then a quick ride into the hills to get the legs heated up
I am not sure what this series of storms will do for all of you back east, but I cannot image it is going to bring spring here any earlier.
Play outside, but try to stay warm and dry.
I thought I could make it to the mid-week Farmer's market to pick up some beef and veggies before the next wave of rain hit. I could see it coming in behind me from the west an knew it was going to be close getting home dry.
There was snow peeking out through the clouds on the Topa bluffs, but not easy to catch with the camera I had with me.
Making it there was fairly dry, the way home was another matter.
The
Patagonia Men's Houdini® performed perfectly as did my Rainlegs chaps. Both pieces of rain gear are perfect for the light rain quick ride sort of thing. This test was only 6 or 7 miles in drizzle, but that is all you need most of the time here in southern California. Anything more and these will wet out and then through, all dry and happy this time though.
Another round or rain and possibly hail is scheduled for the next few days. I headed out towards Lake Casitas hoping to get some shots of the snow on the mountains bofre the clouds set in.
The cloud line was already too low, blocking the snow that I had seen from town earlier in the morning. The rivers were all running high, with more rain on the way things could get interesting.
I had wanted to make it to the high point on the west side of the lake, but wind and time were conspiring against me. Still an incredibly beautiful day to get out for a ride.
What was that I said about Spring? After just making it through another weekend of crazy storms, more snow in the mountains and rivers with water in them (it is a coastal desert after all) I made it back out today to run some errands.
After making the ziging and zaging trek across town I pulled up in front of Trader Joe's to realise I had left my key to the lock at home. While a great day for a ride, I was an a mission to get some things, not about to leave my Roadeo just sitting out front and thus had a problem to solve. Rooting through my bags I was able to come up with what seemed like a more than appropriate solution.
Yes, I went the "make it look locked up" route. Employing three large zip ties that would at least slow them down a bit if not confuse a would be thief. Before anyone comments on the wasteful nature of the solution, at the time of departure all were clipped far enough from the business end to be of use at a later date.
Groceries obtained and all 20 lbs or so stuffed into the saddle bag it was time to head home. Bonus points on the way, finding a dime, ten times better than finding a penny!!
More clouds on the way and we may have hail tonight.
So what does a smart guy with a load in the bags and a little extra time do? Head up the hill dead ahead in the picture to see how 20lbs in the rear may or may not affect handling. Going up was not too different from normal, a little light in the front, but by no means bad handling. The way down was where the real fun begins.
All 20 lbs in the rear did was help with braking. Promising for taking the Roadeo on light tours later.
A great ride all over town, 15 to 20 miles, normal clothes, comfortable bike and great weather.
This years rains, with the now warmer weather is bringing out our short window of green and Flowers.
Canada Larga Rd is an oasis of beauty unbelievably close to the city. My favorite micro-tour.
Market Ride March 13 2011, 0 Comments
Woke up early this morning to a few messages of concern for our safety with the impending tsunami. A quick check on the web revealed that Japan is devastated, but that we should be looking at a series of tidal waves in the 3 to 6 foot range. Luckily it will also be a very low tide as the series of waves moves through. Good news for us, but thoughts and prays going out to the hardship on the other side of the planet.
I did what any good American would do and loaded up for a ride along the coast as I had almost 2 hours to the start of the waves.
Starting off with a reminder about every meal, I feel the same way about every ride.
I had the time to head pretty far north and explore some options for avoiding at least part of the stretch along the 101. This tunnel while full of glass can shave off almost 1 mile of hwy riding.
I also found a dirt trail that may connect to La Conchita, but that is for another day.
Back on the ride home no signs of a Tsunami other than the rangers trying to clear the motor homes out of the parks
And then the waiting begins to try to shoot some tsunami video:
I am not sure I was able to actually capture anything visible as evidence, and then time ran out for me to get back home. I heard through the grape-vine that more water came through the harbor around 9:30 or so, but not nearly as dramatic as last year's chilean tsunami. I will review the footage I caught and post it up if worth while later today.
I started out heading up the coast, but decided it would be more fun to head back and further explore the hobo trails come nature trails and now hobo trails again.
Just a thread of the trail left at the start,
If the camera were not strapped on for this shot I probably would have dropped it, friendly guy, but startled me something fierce while on the slippery section of trail.
Spring is coming on strong around here
Shortcut home with time getting tight.
All this within a mile of home, play in your local parks. What you find may surprise you.
Quick mid day run for some supplies, Still plenty of clouds locking the snow into the mountains
And then a quick ride into the hills to get the legs heated up
I am not sure what this series of storms will do for all of you back east, but I cannot image it is going to bring spring here any earlier.
Play outside, but try to stay warm and dry.
There was snow peeking out through the clouds on the Topa bluffs, but not easy to catch with the camera I had with me.
Making it there was fairly dry, the way home was another matter.
The 
The cloud line was already too low, blocking the snow that I had seen from town earlier in the morning. The rivers were all running high, with more rain on the way things could get interesting.
I had wanted to make it to the high point on the west side of the lake, but wind and time were conspiring against me. Still an incredibly beautiful day to get out for a ride.
After making the ziging and zaging trek across town I pulled up in front of Trader Joe's to realise I had left my key to the lock at home. While a great day for a ride, I was an a mission to get some things, not about to leave my Roadeo just sitting out front and thus had a problem to solve. Rooting through my bags I was able to come up with what seemed like a more than appropriate solution.
Yes, I went the "make it look locked up" route. Employing three large zip ties that would at least slow them down a bit if not confuse a would be thief. Before anyone comments on the wasteful nature of the solution, at the time of departure all were clipped far enough from the business end to be of use at a later date.
Groceries obtained and all 20 lbs or so stuffed into the saddle bag it was time to head home. Bonus points on the way, finding a dime, ten times better than finding a penny!!
More clouds on the way and we may have hail tonight.
So what does a smart guy with a load in the bags and a little extra time do? Head up the hill dead ahead in the picture to see how 20lbs in the rear may or may not affect handling. Going up was not too different from normal, a little light in the front, but by no means bad handling. The way down was where the real fun begins.
All 20 lbs in the rear did was help with braking. Promising for taking the Roadeo on light tours later.
A great ride all over town, 15 to 20 miles, normal clothes, comfortable bike and great weather.
Canada Larga Rd is an oasis of beauty unbelievably close to the city. My favorite micro-tour.
While passing through the Harbor we witnessed another Tsunami surge, the tide in this picture is about 4 or 5 feet higher than it should be. It came up and drained back out in 6 minutes or so, pretty incredible to watch. Apparently this has been ongoing since 9am yesterday
Then breakfast and a toodle around town on the way home.
Thanks for Oma and Opie to watch the baby, It was a great morning
I had the time to head pretty far north and explore some options for avoiding at least part of the stretch along the 101. This tunnel while full of glass can shave off almost 1 mile of hwy riding.
I also found a dirt trail that may connect to La Conchita, but that is for another day.
Back on the ride home no signs of a Tsunami other than the rangers trying to clear the motor homes out of the parks
And then the waiting begins to try to shoot some tsunami video:
I am not sure I was able to actually capture anything visible as evidence, and then time ran out for me to get back home. I heard through the grape-vine that more water came through the harbor around 9:30 or so, but not nearly as dramatic as last year's chilean tsunami. I will review the footage I caught and post it up if worth while later today.
If the camera were not strapped on for this shot I probably would have dropped it, friendly guy, but startled me something fierce while on the slippery section of trail.
Spring is coming on strong around here
Shortcut home with time getting tight.
All this within a mile of home, play in your local parks. What you find may surprise you.
